Walter S. Stolz

Walter Stolz, 86, of Ocean Pines died on April 7 of natural causes.
Walter was born December 12, 1938 in Milwaukee Wisconsin, where he lived until leaving for college at Cal Tech and then finishing his degree at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
Wally earned a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Wisconsin in 1964 and specialized in how people learn language. He completed a post-doctorate program with Noam Chomsky before moving on to faculty positions at the University of Texas (Austin) and Earlham College. In 1976, he began working for the National Institutes of Health, where he ultimately became associate director of the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases. He retired in 2001. After moving to Ocean Pines, he volunteered his time writing grants for Atlantic General Hospital.
Wally was an avid boater, starting in his teen years, when he bought small power boats and rebuilt their engines. As an adult he started racing sailboats and competed in Texas, Indiana and Virginia. He loved to be near water and as such had homes throughout his life that were on the Atlantic Coast of the Outer Banks of North Carolina and at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. Any day on a boat was a good day. In addition to loving the water, Wally loved to get into discussions on many topics from boats to the latest advances in medicine and science to his kids and grandkids. He had a ready smile and an excellent sense of humor.
Wally is survived by his wife Deborah and his children, Lesley and Jeffrey. Grandchildren include Hannah and Daniel de la Calle. His younger sister Karen Stolz of Escondido, California, predeceased him. He is also survived by his first wife, Torrey (Kipp) Youngstrum.
No service is planned. Letters of condolence can be sent to the family via www.burbagefuneralhome.com. Arrangements are in the care of The Burbage Funeral Home. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Walter, please visit our Tree Store.